Monday 18.01.2021
Published17 01 2021, 17:23
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow

2000m

Wet snow

 

Fresh wind slabs require caution. Moist snow slides during the day are possible.
As a consequence of new snow and a moderate to strong northwesterly wind, further wind slabs formed on Sunday in particular on east and south facing slopes, in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Wind slabs can be released by people, but they will be small in most cases.

The older wind slabs of the last few days are covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. These can in isolated cases be triggered in the old snowpack and reach medium size in particular on steep, little used shady slopes.

As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation moist snow slides and avalanches are possible as the day progresses, but they can reach medium size in isolated cases. This applies on very steep sunny slopes and in all altitude zones.
Snowpack
>
5 to 10 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell on Sunday above approximately 2000 m. The northwesterly wind has transported the new snow.

The more recent wind slabs represent the main danger. The somewhat older wind slabs have bonded quite well with the old snowpack in particular on sunny slopes. In isolated cases wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack.

Low altitudes: The rain gave rise to increasing moistening of the snowpack in all aspects below approximately 2000 m. The surface of the snowpack will freeze to form a strong crust and will soften during the day. This applies in particular on steep sunny slopes.

The current avalanche situation calls for meticulous route selection.
Tendency
Slight decrease in danger of dry and moist avalanches.